Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!dsinc!netnews.upenn.edu!vax1.cc.lehigh.edu!cert.sei.cmu.edu!krvw From: cmcdonal@wsmr-emh03.army.mil (Chris McDonald ASQNC-TWS-R-SO) Newsgroups: comp.virus Subject: Product Test, Flu_Shot+ (PC) Message-ID: <0012.9105231331.AA02851@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu> Date: 21 May 91 20:54:49 GMT Sender: Virus Discussion List Lines: 46 Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu [Ed. The following is the first part of Chris McDonald's product review of Flu_Shot+. The complete text to this review, along with the rest of Chris's (and Rob Slade's) reviews, is available for anonymous FTP on cert.sei.cmu.edu (IP # 128.237.253.5) in the pub/virus-l/docs/reviews directory.] ******************************************************************************* PT-27 May 1991 ******************************************************************************* 1. Product Description: Flu_Shot+ is a shareware program to assist a user in detecting "suspicious" activity which may be indicative of a malicious program. 2. Product Acquisition: Flu_Shot+ is available from Software Concepts Design, 594 Third Avenue, New York City, NY 10016. The cost for version 1.81 is $15.00 plus $4.00 handling charges. Site licenses are available. The program is available on the Internet to include the host simtel20 in the path: pd1: fsp_181.zip. The author of the program is Ross Greenberg, who is also associated with the commercial program Virex-PC (see PT-23, Revised May 1991). 3. Product Tester: Chris Mc Donald, Computer Systems Analyst, Information Systems Command, White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002-5506, DSN: 258-4176, DDN: cmcdonal@wsmr-emh03.army.mil or cmcdonald@wsmr-simtel20.army.mil. 4. Product Test: a. I acquired version 1.5 in January 1989 from the simtel20 repository. Then the registration fee was $10.00 plus $4.00 handling. I registered my copy at that time and have continued to download revisions to the program through version 1.81 to look for any significant changes. At version 1.7 Mr. Greenberg indicated that future upgrades to Flu_Shot+ might end because he had entered into an agreement with a commercial firm to market the program's protection features with additional viral scanning and disinfection capabilities. The commercial firm is now Microcom Software Division which markets Virex-PC. While Mr. Greenberg actually sold Microcom Flu_Shot++, not Flu_Shot+, I was somewhat surprised when version 1.81 reached the repository in December 1990. This version came bundled with a demonstration copy of the viral scanning capability of Virex-PC. Subsequent electronic communications with Mr. Greenberg suggest that Microcom may view continued releases of Flu_Shot+ as a commonsense marketing strategy to migrate users to their commercial product. ...